Central Asia news

Security forces speak of illegal network of extremist organizations in place in the Central Asia

Special security services of the CIS-member states acknowledge the presence of extremist organizations within the Central Asia.

«We have to acknowledge the existence of illegal extremist organizations, active in the countries of Central Asia. Recent events in the north and south of Kazakhstan, as well as in the Rasht valley of Tajikistan have shown evidence of extremists’ intrusion from outside and creation of organized groups within the countries of Central Asia”, said Moldiyar Orozaliev, deputy chairman of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center, during consultations between representatives of security services and practical units combating terrorisms and extremism in the CIS-member states within the Central Asian region, held in Bishkek on the 9th of December.

According to the CIS ATC’ press-office, the consultative meeting has been attended by the ATC’ experts, representatives of the national security committees and services from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, along with representatives of the Coordinating service of the CIS Council of the Border Guards Commanders and CIS Bureau for coordination of the anti-organized crime activities.

Meeting’s participants have agreed to describe the operational situation within the region of Central Asia as “sustained instability”. Fairly broad spectrum of threats characteristic of this region persists, including radicalization of population, based on manipulation with inverted religious slogans, illegal drug trade, growing activity of international terrorist and extremist organizations. Security situation within the region continues to be seriously impacted by processes underway in the northern provinces of Afghanistan just across the border.

Knews.kg is citing Kolbay Musaev, the first deputy chairman of the State national security committee of Kyrgyzstan, as saying that “security situation within the region is a matter of concern, in the light of negative trends present both within Kyrgyzstan and beyond, and due to the country’s proximity to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan giving rise to threats of terrorism. Recently, we have grown concerned with the situation in Kazakhstan, as well.” He has further pointed to the growing religiousness of the population and politicization of Islam. In his opinion, numerous terrorist and extremist organization attempt to provoke ethnic conflicts, hitting the most vulnerable.

Most ATC’ experts recommend that national security forces within CIS should focus upon increasing the counter-terrorist and counter-diversionist protection of the energy, transportation and communication infrastructures, as well as on defining and testing the algorithms of joint activities by national counter-terrorism units, primarily in the field of prevention of acts of terrorism.